GALLERY: Nashville Amp Expo 2011

On August 19-22, hundreds of amp makers, luthiers, stompbox builders, guitarists, bassists, collectors, tone freaks, and gear fanatics converged on Music City for the third annual Nashville Amp Expo. Organized by Creation Audio Labs, the smooth-running event was held at the Hyatt Place hotel in nearby Brentwood, Tennessee. The Expo took over the entire hotel for three nights and two days of high-decibel glory, and the show’s slogan—Blow It Out Your Amp—proved totally apt.

Roaming the hotel hallways, gig-bag schlepping attendees stopped at exhibitors’ rooms to audition and test drive inspiring boutique amps, guitars, and pedals. Seminars on amp and guitar maintenance gave players of all stylistic persuasions useful info to take home, and at least 10 concerts covered a wide range of music from fiddle-driven bluegrass to skull-crushing rock. Our photo gallery brings you a taste of the new, beautiful, and sometimes outrageous gear that made this year's Nashville Amp Expo such a success.

Senior Editor Andy Ellis learned to play classical and rock guitar in France and Germany, and then went on to study jazz at Boston's Berklee College of Music. After playing in bands for several years, Andy discovered he had an affinity for music journalism. During the last two-and-a-half decades, he has written hundreds of features, interviews, and lessons. His work has appeared in virtually every guitar magazine and many websites in the U.S., and dozens of his lessons are collected in popular instructional books. Now based in Nashville, Andy backs singer-songwriters on the baritone guitar.

Stay Connected

Sign up for our email newsletters!

Get the PG Apps

On PremierGuitar.com, "Sponsored Content" refers to articles, videos, or audio recordings that are produced or curated by an advertiser but that Premier Guitar is happy to share alongside our own editorial content due to the Sponsored Content’s educational, musical, or entertainment value. Sponsored Content is clearly labeled everywhere it appears, and Premier Guitar's editorial department has no involvement in its creation.